Physical Fitness and Intraocular Pressure

Abstract The ability of moderate to intense aerobic exercise to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) has been reported. Previous studies have focused on a single postexercise recovery period not considering the long‐term effect of improved physical fitness on IOP. A total of 32 adult subjects, all having IOP's of >18 mm Hg in each eye as determined by an American Optical Corporation Non‐Contact Tonometer, were selected for the study. After a complete medical and visual evaluation, participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (N = 18) receiving a 6‐month supervised exercise program to improve physical fitness or into a control group (N = 14). After 6 months, each group was reevaluated to observe changes in physical fitness and IOP. Pre‐ and poststudy measurements of maximum oxygen uptake (ml/kg/min) made with a Beckman O 2 analyzer showed significant improvement in physical fitness in the intervention group (p < 0.05). There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in IOP, 2.0 mm Hg in the right eye and 1.3 mm Hg in the left eye, in the intervention group; however, decreases in IOP were comparable and significant (p < 0.05) in the control group. Results from multiple regression analysis for each individual group and for combined groups indicated that changes in IOP were not dependent upon changes in physical fitness.